History
The company was funded in 1989. Michel Paoletti came to Chile from Tahiti in 1988, at a time when most of the traditional family vineyards were in trouble. After visiting extensively al wine producing regions, he found that the Maule Valley offered a great potential, recognized in the past, and strangely forgotten lately. As he wanted to anchor the wine in its natural and cultural environment, he looked for a vineyard which could be a “domaine”, in a way similar to the Bordeaux region. The beautiful and historical mansion which crowned one of the properties he visited was ideal. Some of friends and wine enthusiasts from Tahiti decided to buy the property, known at that time as “Fundo La Oriental”, with him. They bought it from its original owner, Lucía Donoso Gatica, an extraordinary charming lady, in whom honor we gave the first name to one of the first bottled wines of the company, “Doña Lucía”, and later her family name to the upper range of our wines.
The vineyard produced a promising bulk wine at the time of buying, provided the adequate equipment and technology be brought in. the owners invested large sums of money to do so, and the result was gratifying. They doubled the size of the vineyard, and brought another one in the San Javier region, slightly more to the south.
Executives
Alvaro Arriagada is the general manager and chief winemaker of Agricola Salve S.A. (Casa Donoso). The team under his direction comprises Rafael Muñoz, and Rodrigo Vera.
The Owners
The main shareholders are: Vincent Law, René Quesnot, Michel Paoletti, Frederic Siu, Robert Wan, and Louis Wane.
The holding company in French Polynesia is: “Les vingnobles S.A.” chaired by Robert Wan. Operations in Chile are carried out by “Agricola SALVE S.A.” (Casa Donoso), chaired by Michel Paoletti.
|
|
Robert WanWhen he was 19 years old, Robert Wan, who comes from a poor family, started working for different companies: an accounting firm, a shipping agency, an import-export business, a motor-dealer… He is subsequently an employee, a shareholder, then a company owner. In 1973 his vocation for pearls appears, which will make him the first pearl producer and exporter in Tahiti. Robert Wan currently exploits different sites on the Tuamotu-Gambier archipelago, on the South Marutea, Nengo Nengo, Fakarava and Mangareva islands. |
|
Michel PaolettiAlumnus of the French National Administration School (ENA), Michel Paoletti has carried out different administrative or political positions, all of which have been related with economic development. After his positions overseas (Australia, Canada and Italy) and in France, he settles in French Polynesia, and starts his career in the private sector, during which he founds the company, then he returns to public service in the Polynesian government until 2004. Since then, he is a member of the French Economic and Social Council. He is the author of two handbooks on French civilization. |
Louis WaneLouis Wane, born on August 30th 1943, has been present in French Polynesia’s economy for over forty years. He has developed industrial, agribusiness, and retailing and distribution industry (Carrefour hypermarkets and Champion supermarkets) activities, which he added a hotel and tourism industry pole to, so as to establish himself on a long term basis in another of the Territory’s promising niches.
In total, the Louis WANE group includes over thirty companies that currently employ over 1600 people, of which:
- 214 employees in Agribusiness
- 707 employees in Distribution
- 697 employees in the Hotel industry
|
|
Frédéric SiuAlong with his family, he is at the head of a diversified economic group including a building materials company, several automobile import and maintenance companies, gas and petroleum products distribution companies and an aquaculture installation. Alumnus of Berkeley University in the United States, he has kept a close relationship with the University, which led to the creation of a research center on insular ecosystems. |
|
René QuesnotLandowner and owner of several companies: farming, building, agro-industry. He is the major producer of tiare extracts (tiare being the iconic tahitian flower). He is a past chairman of the Polynesian development bank. |
|
Vincent LawCountable expert and wine lover. |
|
